"Vordingborg" Vordingborg by mikkel1980

The Town of Vordingborg lies in the south of Zealand, close to the island of Falster. The town probably developed after the building of the castle by Valdemar the Great in the 12th century. It is thought however that already during the Viking age there was a tower at the site of the castle ruins. This tower or 'varde' could have given the town its current name.
From the reign of Valdemar the Great (12th century), up to the reign of Valdemar Atterdag (14th century), Vordingborg was an important town in the defense of Denmark. After that, the importance of the town diminished.

During the reign of king Valdemar the Victorious (1202-1241), the first written Danish law was made. At the end of his reign in 1241, Valdemar signed this book of law, known as the Jutland Law, in Vordingborg castle. The law was used in Jutland, Fyn and Slesvig.

In 1282, during the reign of king Erik Klipping, the first Danish constitutionn was signed, in Vordingborg. In that time, the nobles thought the monarch was too powerful and they wanted to have more political influence. Therefore, it was decided that the king would hold a national assembly each year, to make better cooperation with the nobles possible. This decision was written down as the first danish constitution